Pericardial effusion is a condition when the lining covering the heart or pericardium experiences a buildup of fluid. This condition usually occurs due to injuries to the chest and heart or from certain diseases.
In addition to injury to the chest or heart, pericardial effusion can also be caused by inflammation of the lining of the heart or pericarditis and bleeding into the lining of the heart.
Pericardial effusion is a dangerous condition and needs to be watched out for because it can overload the heart and make the heart's performance decrease. If not treated immediately, pericardial effusion can even lead to heart failure and death.
Various Causes of Pericardial Effusion
One of the main causes of pericardial effusion is inflammation of the lining of the heart due to viral infection. The infection can be caused by cytomegalovirus, coxsackievirus, and HIV.
Apart from viral infections, there are several other conditions that can cause a pericardial effusion, including:
- Heart attack
- Autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
- Cancer, especially lung cancer and breast cancer
- Hypothyroidism
- Injury or impact on the chest cavity
- Cardiac tamponade due to stab wounds near the heart
- Side effects of certain drugs, such as high blood pressure drugs hydralazine, pulmonary TB drugs isoniazidand anti-seizure drugs phenytoin
Recognizing the Symptoms
The main symptom of a pericardial effusion is chest pain, especially at the back of the breastbone. Chest pain due to a pericardial effusion also tends to be more severe when the sufferer takes a deep breath and bends down.
In addition to chest pain, pericardial effusion can also cause other symptoms, including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Anxious and confused
- Fatigue
- Hiccup
- Uncomfortable breathing when lying down (orthopnea)
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
However, if the symptoms of pericardial effusion become more serious, such as accompanied by shortness of breath, loss of consciousness or fainting, palpitations (heart palpitations), and cold sweats, the patient should seek medical attention immediately, because such pericardial effusions can be life-threatening.
How to Treat Pericardial Effusion
In mild pericardial effusion with a known clear cause, may not require special treatment. However, in principle, the treatment of pericardial effusion depends on how much fluid has accumulated in the lining spaces of the heart, as well as its severity and cause.
To treat pericardial effusion caused by pericarditis, the doctor may prescribe several types of drugs, such as corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin.
In contrast, if it turns out that the patient has a severe infection or impaired heart function, the treatment of pericardial effusion that may be recommended is to remove fluid and prevent more fluid from accumulating in the pericardium as soon as possible. This handling can be done in two ways, namely:
Pericardiocentesis
The doctor will insert a needle through the chest into the pericardial effusion and followed by a catheter, then the doctor will aspirate the fluid out of the pericardium.
Pericardiectomy
This procedure must be performed by a surgeon and is performed under general anaesthesia. In a pericardiectomy, the doctor will make an incision in the chest and cut part of the pericardium, thereby draining the pericardial effusion and preventing the risk of recurrence in the future.
Pericardial effusion that attacks around the heart, can not be underestimated. If you experience chest pain or other symptoms of a pericardial effusion, consult a cardiologist immediately for appropriate treatment.